Atheism

Atheism is the rejection of a creator and all religions; it should not be confused with agnosticism, the lack of interest in religion but not its rejection. Atheism literally means "without gods", meaning that it is the opposite of religion. Atheism's beginning came during Enlightenment in the 16th century as thinkers challenged Catholicism and other beliefs, emphasizing humanism and individualism - today, it is common for people to turn away from religion as modernization overshadows religious observance. Historically, people who have rejected God have been labelled as heretics and have been murdered, and atheism in Islamic states can be punished with death or forced conversion. Today, atheists make up 11% of the world population and 12% more irreligious; many modern countries and communist/former communist nations have notable atheist/irreligious populations, with 64.3% of the population of North Korea, 62.5% of Ukraine, 61% of China, 46.5% of South Korea, 40% of France, 34.2% of the Czech Republic, 25.7% of the United Kingdom, 24% of Cuba, 22.8% of the United States, 13.4% of Slovakia, 13% of Russia being atheist or irreligious.